Copilot in Outlook vs Shortwave
Copilot in Outlook and Shortwave overlap on work tasks and share 2 tasks. The verdict below is calculated for each role from the tasks, the role fit and the price.
Short answer
Copilot in Outlook wins for 13 of 20 roles in our data. Copilot in Outlook starts at $20/mo; Shortwave publishes no fixed price.
Verdict by role
| Role | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant | Either one | even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start |
| Lawyer | Copilot in Outlook | covers 3 of this role's tasks against 2; built for this role |
| HR manager | Copilot in Outlook | built for this role |
| Finance manager | Either one | even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start |
| Manager | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Marketer | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Sales manager | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Data analyst | Either one | even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start |
| Teacher | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Executive assistant | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Logistics manager | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Procurement manager | Either one | even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start |
| Secretary | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2; part of the role's core toolkit |
| Recruiter | Copilot in Outlook | built for this role |
| HR administrator | Copilot in Outlook | built for this role |
| Tax consultant | Either one | even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start |
| Auditor | Either one | even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start |
| Economist | Either one | even on tasks, Shortwave is cheaper to start |
| Project manager | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Social media manager | Copilot in Outlook | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
Side by side
| Copilot in Outlook | Shortwave | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Microsoft | Shortwave |
| Category | Documents and writing | Other tools |
| Free plan | No | Yes: A free plan with a shorter AI search history |
| Cheapest paid plan | Included in Copilot Pro, $20/mo | price on request |
| Top plan | Included in Microsoft 365 Copilot, $30/mo | price on request |
| Tasks covered | 5 | 2 |
Copilot in Outlook: Summaries of long email threads, reply drafts and meeting prep right in Outlook.
Shortwave: Email client for Gmail with an AI assistant that searches and answers across all your mail.
Tasks both handle
Only Copilot in Outlook covers
- Find a meeting time with several participants
- Log incoming correspondence with a short summary
- Plan your week in the calendar with focus blocks
Only Shortwave covers
No unique tasks in this data
Pitfalls to watch at work
Copilot in Outlook
- A thread summary misses attachments and late edits in quoted text: check amounts and dates in the email itself
- The reply draft picks up the tone of the previous email, including a sharp one: reread before sending
- A personal Copilot Pro subscription on a work mailbox takes company email outside its tenant: work mail needs a business license
Shortwave
- It works only with Gmail and Google Workspace; Outlook mail cannot be connected
- The assistant indexes emails on the service's servers: for mailboxes with HR and banking mail, clear this with the company
- Check a date or amount from the assistant in the email it cites
FAQ
Is Copilot in Outlook or Shortwave better for work?
In our data Copilot in Outlook is the better choice for 13 of 20 roles. The table above shows the reason for each role.
Which is cheaper, Copilot in Outlook or Shortwave?
Copilot in Outlook starts at $20/mo; Shortwave publishes no fixed price.
Do Copilot in Outlook and Shortwave have free plans?
Copilot in Outlook: No. Shortwave: Yes. A free plan with a shorter AI search history.
Compare Copilot in Outlook with
- Copilot in Outlook vs Gemini in Gmail
- Copilot in Outlook vs Superhuman
- Copilot in Outlook vs ChatGPT
- Copilot in Outlook vs Copilot in Word
- Copilot in Outlook vs Gemini in Google Docs
Compare Shortwave with
- Shortwave vs Fyxer
- Shortwave vs Superhuman
- Shortwave vs Descript
- Shortwave vs ElevenLabs
- Shortwave vs HeyGen
Alternatives to Copilot in Outlook · Alternatives to Shortwave · Copilot in Outlook pricing · Shortwave pricing
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